THE WORK OF KARL LAGERFELD TO BE HIGHLIGHTED BY THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART AT THE 2023 COSTUME INSTITUTE EXHIBITION & BENEFIT GALA, KARL LAGERFELD: A LINE OF BEAUTY
Bringing together Karl Lagerfeld and The Met — as two icons of art and culture — the exhibition will explore his creative process, the evolution of his designs, and his everlasting impact on fashion.
PARIS, FRANCE (September 30, 2022) — The House of KARL LAGERFELD is deeply honored by the theme of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 2023 Costume Institute Exhibition, Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. Dedicated to Karl Lagerfeld’s iconic work and six-decade career, the exhibition will explore his creative process, from sketching and drawing to garments that have changed the course of culture. It will be open to the public from May 5 to July 16, 2023, and The Met’s iconic Costume Institute Benefit — colloquially dubbed The Met Gala — will take place on Monday, May 1, 2023.
The announcement was made earlier this morning in Paris by The Met.
“Karl was a lover of multidisciplinary arts, and it’s the highest recognition for his work to be presented in such a monumental exhibition at The Met’s Costume Institute,” said Pier Paolo Righi, CEO of KARL LAGERFELD. “As custodians of Karl’s legacy, we aim to bring his passion, intuition and inexhaustible creativity to life in everything we do. We cannot imagine a more poignant or meaningful way to celebrate his colossal achievements — both the enduring impact he’s had on fashion and how it’s shaping the future.”
To coincide with the announcement, KARL LAGERFELD has introduced 77 exclusive editions of Karl’s most iconic design: the white shirt. Each one-of-a-kind piece has been individually printed with Karl’s original sketches and hand-signed with its limited-edition run number. The shirts are accompanied by a unique collector’s box, which includes a keepsake art print of Karl’s atelier in Paris. Furthermore, the entire purchase price from the sale of each shirt will be donated to The Met. The 77 limited-edition pieces are now available exclusively at KARL LAGERFELD stores in Paris (Boulevard Saint-Germain) and Milan (a pop-up shop on via Manzoni), plus on KARL.COM.
“Having worked with Karl for over 30 years, it’s beautiful to see his life’s work culminate in such a monumental way,” said Caroline Lebar, SVP of Image & Communications at KARL LAGERFELD. “It will be incredibly inspiring to reflect on his contributions to fashion, design and culture, as seen through the lens of Andrew Bolton, the amazing curator of the exhibition.”
“The Met Exhibition is the pinnacle of creativity, fashion and culture colliding together,” said Hun Kim, Design Director of KARL LAGERFELD. “It’s an honor that Karl’s work will be at the core of the 2023 exhibition and Costume Institute Benefit event and inspire the looks that will walk the world’s most renowned red carpet.”
Through approximately 150 works, Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty will trace the evolution of his designs, exploring the progression from two-dimensional sketches to three-dimensional garments. The pieces on view will span his career as Creative Director of the KARL LAGERFELD, Chanel and Fendi houses, among others. The exhibition will particularly focus on his passion for drawing and the use of form as his primary vehicle for creative expression, with “through lines” presented as dualities and metaphors throughout.
Further details on Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty and the 2023 exhibition will be shared by The Met in the coming months.
Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty
The Met Fifth Avenue in the Tisch Gallery
Exhibition: May 5 to July 16, 2023
Gala: Monday, May 1, 2023
